Death of Trayvon spurs meeting on value of black men

Thursday

Jul 18, 2013 at 9:42 PMJul 19, 2013 at 2:16 PM

More than 50 black men as well as a few black women of all ages answered Bishop Derek Triplett's call to discuss Trayvon Martin and the value of black men in America on Thursday night at the Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Cultural & Educational Center.

KATIE KUSTURASTAFF WRITER

DAYTONA BEACH — Dr. Willie J. Kimmons has never seen black people this divided in his life. "We didn't get here overnight," said Kimmons, 69, a nationally recognized consultant, speaker, seminar leader and author. Divided or not, more than 50 black men as well as a few black women of all ages answered Bishop Derek Triplett's call to discuss Trayvon Martin and the value of black men in America on Thursday night at the Yvonne Scarlett-Golden Cultural & Educational Center. Though the case and recent acquittal of George Zimmerman, the man who shot and killed Martin, 17, may have sparked the gathering, Triplett and the group focused on where black men are today and how to make positive changes in the community. Many in the group cited meeting goals when Triplett asked how they measure success. Triplett, a senior pastor at Hope Fellowship Church, said he's been doing this too long and knows, for many young black men, success is measured by the car they drive, the clothes they wear and the female they're with. "You just don't want to tell me that," Triplett said to laughs from the group. The group seemed taken aback and impressed when 11-year-old Camari Nelson said success was not just forming a family, but raising one. Triplett also discussed the difficulty of living in and getting out of the "hood," or ghetto."We dyin' over nothing," Triplett said. "We're not graduating, or we're graduating and going nowhere." He then asked the group for ideas on how to get out of the hood. "I think you have to, first, envision yourself out," 32-year-old Matt Covington, of Daytona Beach, said. Triplett said many people have the idea that giving black people sports will keep them out of trouble, but it's not a realistic concept because only a select few actually make it to the major leagues. Triplett then asked Kimmons how the younger generations have failed, but Kimmons stopped him and said it was the older generation that has failed the younger ones. "We gave you too much and expected nothing in return," Kimmons said. "We gave up on our children and our children's children." Triplett then gave the group five key maxims to follow: Don't commit crimes; always be able to pass a drug test; don't argue, fight or die over nothing; work on your presentation; and find one person to call before you make a bad decision. He said the reason black men are dying over nothing is because no one wants to stand down and end up looking bad, even over things as small as an accusation of traveling in a basketball game. Triplett said presentation — how you look, talk and dress – also is important. "Somebody's always looking at you," Triplett said. Daytona Beach resident Tavaughn Thomas said black men dress in certain styles to impress guys in the hood. "You can't get a job with your pants hanging down," said Thomas, 38. Triplett told the group he wants to keep having meetings like the one conducted Thursday night, and Thomas agreed they were a good idea. "This is how we move forward — things like this," Thomas said. Regarding the last of the five key rules he presented, Triplett said "sometimes you are a phone call away from not ruining your life." He told the group something he said he makes sure to tell his children. "Don't fail to call me because you're worried about punishment," Triplett said. Daytona Beach pastor Monzell Ford told the group at the conclusion of the meeting he was willing to give his number and be there for anyone who needed him. "If you want to change, there's change available," Ford said. "If there's breath in your body, there's hope."

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